PANAMA ESTABLISHES RELATIONS WITH CHINA, TSAI CITES HOSTILITY|中巴簽聯合公報 我宣布與巴拿馬斷交

Yet another of Taiwan's diplomatic allies has been lost. Panama announced yesterday at 9AM Taipei time that it was establishing diplomatic relations with China. At the same time, a joint communiqué between Panama and China was being signed in Beijing. Back in Taiwan, Foreign Minister David Lee expressed anger and regret at the decision, and at 10:30AM, he announced the break off of relations with Panama. President Tsai Ing-wen called a press conference in the afternoon, criticizing Beijing's diplomatic hostility. Panama was one of the countries visited by President Tsai Ing-wen in her first overseas tour. However, it has now chosen to establish relations with China, making it the second of Taiwan's allies after Sao Tome and Principe to switch recognition since Tsai took office. In a press conference, Tsai made a statement to Beijing that Taiwan will not bargain away its sovereignty or compromise in the face of threats. ==TSAI ING-WEN President== We are a sovereign state, and our sovereignty is not to be challenged or bargained away. I am stating to the authorities in Beijing, that Taiwan has done all that it can to maintain peace and stability across the Strait. However, Beijing's actions have greatly affected the currently stable status quo. This is unacceptable to the Taiwanese people. We will not sit idly as our country's interests are repeatedly threatened and challenged. At 9 am on June 13, Panama's President Juan Carlos Varela officially announced that his country was establishing diplomatic ties with China and unilaterally severing ties with Taiwan. ==JUAN CARLOS VARELA Panamanian President== I am confident that this is the right time to consolidate China-Panama relations. Both our countries are developing nations with a common vision. Taiwan was a great friend to Panama and we are sincerely grateful for their friendship and their assistance in Panama's development. At the same time, China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Panama's Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Isabel Saint Malo in Beijing, where the two countries signed a joint communiqué. ==WANG YI China's Minister of Foreign Affairs== Effective immediately, the Republic of Panama breaks off its so-called diplomatic relationship with the Taiwanese authority and promises to never establish any official ties with Taiwan. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately broke off relations with Panama. ==DAVID LEE ROC Minister of Foreign Affairs== To maintain the sovereignty and dignity of our country, we have decided effective immediately to terminate diplomatic ties with the Republic of Panama. All bilateral cooperation and assistance will cease, and embassy and technical delegation staff will be withdrawn. Media sources from Panama reported that the country was establishing ties with China as early as 8AM Taiwan time, with an official announcement coming at 9, the same time the joint communiqué was signed. Taiwan announced that it was breaking off relations with Panama at 10:30. Taiwan knew of the impending switch at 4AM, and President Tsai called a cabinet meeting at 8 in response. Though some accused the government of lacking awareness of the issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Taiwan worked to preserve ties until the last minute, while Panama lied about its intentions to the end. MOFA and the Mainland Affairs Council jointly called an emergency press conference, while Presidential Office Secretary-General Joseph Wu expressed Taiwan's regret and anger at the turn of events. ==JOSEPH WU Sec.-Gen., Presidential Office== This is not only a public threat to the existence of the Taiwanese people, it is also a deliberate provocation of the peace and stability across the Strait and in the region. We condemn this in the strongest terms. With China's suppression at every turn, Taiwan's diplomacy is facing an unprecedented crisis. Translated by JOHN CHEN 巴拿馬共和國在台北時間上午9點宣布，與中國建交，同時在北京簽署聯合公報，我國外交部長李大維表達憤怒與遺憾，於10點半宣布立即終止與巴拿馬共和國的外交關係，總統蔡英文下午親自召開記者會，批評北京操作一中原則，打壓台灣國際空間，政府將重新評估兩岸情勢。 蔡英文總統上任，首度出訪就造訪的國家巴拿馬，如今和這個建交最久的邦交國，宣布斷交，而這也是民進黨政府繼聖多美普林西比後，第二個和台灣斷交的國家，目前台灣的邦交國只剩20個。總統蔡英文親上火線，鄭重向北京宣告，台灣主權不容交換，絕不在威脅下妥協讓步。 ==總統 蔡英文== 我們是主權國家 主權不容挑戰 主權也不容交換 我要在此正告北京當局 為了維持兩岸和平穩定 台灣已經善盡一切責任 但北京這樣的做法 已經衝擊了兩岸穩定的現狀 台灣人民無法接受 我們決不會坐視國家的利益 一再受到威脅與挑戰 時間回到一早，巴拿馬共和國總統瓦雷拉6月13日台北時間上午9點鐘，正式宣布與中國建立外交關係，也片面終止台巴外交關係。 ==巴拿馬總統 瓦雷拉== 我有信心 這是個正確的時機 來鞏固中巴關係 兩國都是開發中國家 有共同的願景 台灣是巴拿馬偉大的朋友 我們誠摯感謝他們的友好 以及對我國發展的協助 同一時間，中國外交部長王毅與巴拿馬副總統兼外長德尚瑪洛在北京舉行會談，當場簽署中巴聯合公報。 ==中國外交部長 王毅== 巴拿馬共和國政府從即日 斷絕同台灣方面所謂外交關係 並承諾不再同台灣 發生任何官方關係 巴拿馬與中國建交，我外交部隨即宣布立即與巴拿馬共和國斷交。 ==外交部長 李大維== 為維護國家的主權及尊嚴 我國決定自即日起 終止與巴拿馬共和國的外交關係 全面停止雙邊合作及援助 撤離大使館以及技術團的人員 巴拿馬媒體台北時間上午8點就已經有相關報導，9點巴國總統對外宣布，同時間在北京簽署聯合公報，我外交部10點半召開記者會宣布斷交。雖然我方清晨四點掌握訊息，8點由總統親自召開政府首長會議因應，但外界質疑我方事前未能掌握，外交部表示，我方對邦交努力到最後一刻，但巴拿馬卻惡意欺矇到最後一刻。。外交部，陸委會同一時間召開臨時記者會，總統府也由秘書長吳釗燮拉高分貝向北京當局，表達我方的高度遺憾與不滿。 ==總統府秘書長 吳釗燮== 這樣的做法不僅是對台灣人民 生存權利的公然威脅 更是對台海以及區域間的 和平穩定的公然挑釁 對此 我們表達嚴厲的譴責 在兩岸關係急凍，處處遭對岸打壓國際空間，台灣外交面臨前所未有的危機。 記者 綜合報導